Financial gaming management system and method

Abstract

A system, apparatus, and method for providing accounting between and among different gaming platforms, comprising a first gaming platform for allowing an individual to participate in a game being played on a second gaming platform, and for receiving a wager from the individual via the first gaming platform for use in the game, and a server coupled to the first gaming platform and the second gaming platform for determining an amount owed to the first gaming platform by the second gaming platform depending on an outcome of the wager.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A system for providing accounting between and among different gaming platforms, comprising:
 a first gaming platform for allowing an individual to participate in a game being played on a second gaming platform, and for receiving a wager from the individual via the first gaming platform for use in the game; and   a server coupled to the first gaming platform and the second gaming platform for determining an amount owed to the first gaming platform by the second gaming platform depending on an outcome of the wager.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first accounting system coupled to the first gaming platform and the server for tracking payouts by the first gaming platform; and   a second accounting system coupled to the second gaming platform and the server for tracking payouts by the second gaming platform; wherein   the server provides a credit to the first accounting system if the wager was successful.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first gaming platform and the second gaming platform are both located on the premises of an authorized gaming provider. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first gaming platform is located on the premises of a first authorized gaming provider and the second gaming platform is not located on the premises of the first authorized gaming provider. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the server is further configured to:
 generate a report indicative of the credit owed to the first authorized gaming establishment by the second authorized gaming establishment.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the server is further configured to provide reconciliation and settlement between the second entity and the first entity. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first gaming platform comprises an electronic device and the second gaming platform comprises a live table game. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first gaming platform comprises a first electronic gaming device located on the premises of a first authorized gaming provider and the second gaming platform comprises live table game located on the premises of a second authorized gaming provider. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for providing accounting between and among different gaming platforms, comprising:
 a communication interface for sending and receiving wagering and game outcome information between a first gaming platform and a second gaming platform;   a memory for storing account information related to the wagering and game outcome information between the first gaming platform and the second gaming platform; and   a processor configured to:   determine an amount owed to the first gaming platform by the second gaming platform, or by the second gaming platform to the first gaming platform, based on wagering and game outcome results.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein determining an amount owed comprises:
 receiving an indication of a first wager from the first gaming platform for use in a game conducted on the second gaming platform;   crediting the account information in accordance with the first wager;   receiving a result of the wager from the second gaming platform; and   debiting the account in accordance with the result.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein determining an amount owed comprises:
 receiving an indication of a first wager from the first gaming platform for use in a game conducted on the second gaming platform;   debiting the account information in accordance with the first wager;   receiving a result of the wager from the second gaming platform; and   crediting the account in accordance with the result.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first gaming platform is coupled to a first accounting system for tracking payouts by the first gaming platform;   the second gaming system is coupled to a second accounting system for tracking payouts by the second gaming platform; and   the processor provides a credit to the second accounting system from the first accounting system if the processor determines that a credit is owed to the second gaming platform from the first gaming platform.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first gaming platform and the second gaming platform are both located on the premises of an authorized gaming provider. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first gaming platform is located on the premises of a first authorized gaming provider and the second gaming platform is not located on the premises of the first authorized gaming provider. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first gaming platform comprises an electronic device and the second gaming platform comprises a live table game. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first gaming platform comprises a first electronic gaming device located on the premises of a first authorized gaming provider and the second gaming platform comprises live table game located on the premises of a second authorized gaming provider. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 generate a report indicative of the credit by one of the authorized gaming establishments to the other authorized gaming establishment.   
     
     
         18 . A method for accounting for cross-platform wagering, comprising:
 receiving an indication of a wager placed by an individual using a first gaming platform over a network interface, the wager for use in a game being conducted on a second gaming platform;   adjusting an account balance stored in a memory, the account balance associated with an amount owed between the first gaming platform and the second gaming platform;   receiving an indication from an electronic device associated with the second gaming platform whether the wager was successful or unsuccessful over the network interface;   adjusting the account balance in accordance with whether the wager was successful or unsuccessful; and   determining an amount owed from the first gaming platform to the second gaming platform, or vice-versa, depending on the account balance.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the first gaming platform comprises an electronic gaming machine and the second gaming platform comprises a live table game.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 providing a credit to a first accounting system associated with the first gaming platform if the second gaming platform owes the first gaming platform; and   providing a second credit to a second accounting system associated with the second gaming platform if the first gaming platform owes the second gaming platform.